Archives: Walk Directory

The Walk in Detail

The walk starts with an early boat ride, with ‘Wanderer Adventures’, from Tidal River around the Southern tip of the Prom to Sealer’s Cove. Note that, after the ‘Wanderer Adventures’ boat has dropped you off on the beach at Sealer’s Cove, you still have to ford Sealer’s Creek at the start of this walk. At low tide, you will need to remove your boots – at high tide, the water is chest deep!

After fording the creek, enter the Sealer’s Cove Campsite (there is a toilet there) and, at the back of the camp, the trail commences!

The trail follows the coastline Eastward, gently climbing through Eucalypt forest. After 3.4 Km, the trail reaches its zenith at a viewpoint – this is a good spot for morning tea! The trail then turns South. After a further 3.2 Km (now descending), you reach Refuge Cove Campsite. There are excellent views along the way.

The trail continues on the Southern side of the campsite, turning left and commencing to climb, once again. This climb is spectacular, passing Kersop’s Peak at the 8.6 Km mark. This is a great place for a breather – the short detour to the top of the peak is a must – on a good day, the views are amazing!

From Kersop’s Peak, the trail descends steeply to the beach, and, after a couple of undulations, reaches the Little Waterloo Bay Campsite, at the 13 Km mark. This is your lunch spot (there is a toilet here)!

The trail now hugs the shoreline for a way, and crosses photogenic Freshwater Creek, where you can rock-hop across or get your feet wet! After 1.2 Km you reach Waterloo Bay Beach, and the trail turns right (to the West) and heads up across the frontal dune. From here, there are views to Mt Wilson (705 m) to the North.

It is a long walk (4.7 Km), mostly uphill, to Telegraph Junction – but the views of the glacial tors (to the South) along the way are excellent. At the junction, you meet the management track between Telegraph Saddle and the lighthouse, and turn North.

The track is wide, and gently ascends through lovely tree fern and Eucalypt forest for 6 Km. Soon enough you will find yourself at Telegraph Saddle, and the end of your walk.

The Walk in Detail

If Telegraph Saddle can be viewed as the focal centre of walks to the Southern portion of Wilsons Promontory, the Telegraph Track to Roaring Meg and beyond, a wide management vehicle track, is the spine that connects the diverse destinations. The walk to Little Waterloo Bay starts with a relaxed 6 Km down the spine, with absorbing views across to the flank of Mt Oberon and the fernfilled mountain stream filtering its way down in between. This is a great time to spread out across the wide track and get to know your fellow walkers.

Reaching Telegraph Junction, take a sharp turn east to head towards Waterloo Bay. The well-formed 4.7 Km walking track undulates across a series of low hills before reaching its high point, with panoramic views ahead to Waterloo Bay and the intervening coastal wet-land, and glorious rocky tors to the South. The path through the swamp is easy, with boardwalk keeping the feet dry while you admire the fern-lined track edges. As you emerge from the swamp, the surrounding lowlands open up, with views to Mt Wilson (705 m) to the North. All too soon you are at the foreshore with access to the glorious beaches of Waterloo Bay. There is time to check out the beach before turning north to follow the coastal path of the Southern Circuit walk.

An easy 1.1 Km brings you to the photogenic mouth of a short mountain stream emerging from the face of Mt Wilson. Get your feet wet as you cross, or rock hop if you prefer. A narrow mountain path now leads across the toe of the adjacent mountain range on your way to the popular campsite at Little Waterloo Bay. A sharp drop to the right allows you to enjoy the crashing waves as they pound on the exposed granite boulders forming the water’s edge.

Lunch at Little Waterloo Bay, where there are toilet facilities. Check out the beach and look around! This is a chance to dream of a multi-dayhike, if you have not been this way before.

With a crack of the whip, it will be time to start the return journey. While you retrace your outward route, you will be amazed at the number of times you get out the camera for the sights you did not see on the way out. Reaching Telegraph Junction for the second time, you are now faced with the steady climb back up to Telegraph Saddle. A chance to test your fitness and congratulate yourself at the end, for the  completion of a walk to places you will want to visit over and over again.

The Walk in Detail

This walk starts at Telegraph Saddle, and heads South down Telegraph Track – a management road that (almost) reaches the lighthouse on the Southern tip of the Prom.

After 2.4 Km, at the bottom of the descent, a bridge crosses McAlister Creek. This area was one of the many lush stream sides that were destroyed in the 2001 floods. It is now well on the way to recovery. At the 2.7 Km mark, there is another bridge crossing a different branch of the same creek. At the 5.4 Km mark, the road crosses Growler Creek. This is pleasant spot for morning tea!

After 6.1 Km, you arrive at ‘Telegraph Junction’, where the sandy management track to Oberon Bay joins to the right (West). Go a little further South and explore Half-way Hut (1.4 Km each way), before taking the trail to Oberon Bay. The Half-way Hut area has no particular intrinsic beauty, but the hut is an integral part of Prom history. It was built as a storage and shelter for the telegraph linesmen, who patrolled the line on horseback through virgin bush from the Lighthouse and up the isthmus to civilisation, there being no road South of Yanakie. There is a water tank and a toilet at the hut.

The Oberon Bay track meanders through a picturesque avenue of overhanging trees. A family of Yellow-tail Black Cockatoos live here, wallabies, and snakes are common (so keep your eyes open!)

After just under 3 Kms more, the track reaches an open grassy area which houses a toilet and a water tank for the Oberon Bay campsite. The campsite is about 150 metres along a foot track on the West side of the toilet. This grassy area, or the nearby beach, would be suitable lunch spots. However, if it is too early for lunch, defer until the North side of Growler Creek, where there is a sea view.

After inspecting the campsite, continue northwest past the information signs on a foot track which leads to Fraser’s Creek and Oberon Bay.

Head along the beach to its Northern end and Growler Creek. Growler Creek is tidal, so at high tide, you may decide to save your boots and get your feet wet.

An old track is still in evidence here – ignore it – take the lovely new track a little further upstream. There are great views here, on the way to Little Oberon Bay, where there is an amazing set of stairs constructed on a huge glacial tor, and onwards to Norman Beach.

After 15.3 Km, you arrive at Norman Beach, via a new boardwalk and footbridge – great views!

You can either follow your footprints up the beach, or take a somewhat more direct route to Tidal River. If you select the latter, go straight ahead, through a beautiful Paperbark forest (about 1.2 Km to the Tidal River Ring Road, cross the road, and you have a further 400 m to the ice cream shop, the Parks Office and the Commando Memorial)

The Walk in Detail

Starting from Tidal River, at the footbridge, this walk includes the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk, an ascent of Mt Bishop, the Tidal Overlook Track, with an optional side trip to Pillar Pt, before returning to Tidal River. With stunning views of Tidal River and the surrounding mountain ranges and beaches, there are so many photo opportunities that it is a challenge to keep moving. A sharp eye may even spot an eel in the mountain streams, as they flow through the Lilly Pilly Gully.

The first challenge is the steady climb up to the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark, on a well-formed track. Not too hard! You will notice evidence of environmental burns and land clearing, as the land managers strive to remove Coastal Tea Tree to allow local eucalypts to reclaim their traditional dominance. You must cross the main road to reach the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark – be careful!

From the carpark it is an easy stroll to the start of the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk. This lush area of interlinking water courses and wetland vegetation is a delight. Start the Lilly Pilly Gully walk going anti-clockwise, taking the right-hand path from the carpark, and enjoy the walk for the next 4.2 Km. This track has quite a few information signs giving details about bushfires and how they affect the local ecosystem, types of local birds (eg. the Powerful Owl), fungi, types of trees, and many flowers. One of the signs lists 32 species of birds to look for, so, keep your eyes open!

The Nature Walk includes a wet-land area, with running water, seem from a boardwalk. There are more signs here, explaining about the lives of small tree climbing crustaceans, climbing fish, and the communities of plants and animals in this section of warm temperate rainforest. It would be easy to spend more than an hour here - it is a really beautiful and interesting place.

There you will find a track junction, with a track off on the right signposted ‘Mt Bishop’. Take this track, and commence a long steady climb up another well-maintained track to Mt Bishop. The climb is not hard, but demands a good level of fitness. The 2.2 Km climb is eventually rewarded by stunning views from the summit.

The return down to the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk is easy, and after a further 1.5 Km, you finish the Nature Walk at the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark.

Again, cross the main road (with care) and, after 200 m, at the track junction, take the Tidal Overlook Track. A few stone steps along the way lead you around a massive granite outcrop before reaching the main ridge. There is a chance to take in the views from the rock outcrop, before moving on to Lookout Point, where you get another opportunity to capture the views of Tidal River and beyond.

Continuing on, after a further 800 m, the track reaches a junction. Left takes you back to Tidal River, straight ahead to Pillar Pt, and right goes to Squeaky Beach. On this occasion, take the track to Squeaky Beach. After another about 1 Km, you will reach Squeaky Beach. Walk to the Northern end of the beach, which is a good spot for morning tea! There are toilets nearby, in the Squeaky Beach carpark (300 m from the beach).

Enjoy the beach barefoot, hear the squeak made by the rounded grains of quartz sand, paddle in the cold waters of Bass Strait and admire the beautiful red lichen-coloured rocks at the Northern end of the beach. This is the Prom!

When you return to the track junction, you have the option of an easy walk to Pillar Point (720 m each way). There is a short section of rock scramble, before emerging onto a wide rock platform with views across the Tidal River inlet and rolling surf of Norman Beach, with Mt Oberon as a backdrop.

After the mandatory photo op, return 720 m to the track junction.

This time, take the track back towards Tidal River - about 1.2 Km, mostly downhill.

The Walk in Detail

Take a Shuttle Bus or Car Shuffle to start this walk at Darby Saddle, ending at Darby River (about 7 Km along the main road from Tidal River).

The track climbs directly from Darby Saddle, through beautiful Messmate forest, She Oaks and Banksia.

At the first track junction, take the opportunity to digress to Sparkes Lookout (only about a 250 m detour). The views across to Tongue Pt and Norman Island are very rewarding!

The track descends steeply, and then (guess what) climbs again, to another viewpoint at Lookout Rocks. ‘Skull Rock’ and ‘The Glennies’ can be clearly seen from here!

The trail then descends into coastal heathlands, towards Tongue Pt, on sections of green boardwalk.

Stop at the signpost, which warns of the dangers of exploring the rocks further out towards the point (don’t do it!) Enjoy the view!

Follow the track back up the hill, to the track junction. Take the path Northwards towards Darby River.

A junction is soon reached to a side path leading down to the left to ‘Fairy Cove’ (optional – 330 m each way). This path is steep, with stairs down to the beach. It is a beautiful cove!

The trail continues, undulating, towards Darby River, where there is a clean-smelling toilet at the carpark.

The option exists (if you have time) to walk a little further from the carpark (1.3 Km each way), to the mouth of the Darby River and cliffs! The return walk is short, and rewarding!

The Walk in Detail

Take a Shuttle Bus or Car Shuffle to start this walk at the Darby River carpark, where there is a toilet. The walk ends at the Darby Saddle.

The track heads Southwest from the carpark, and is signposted ‘Fairy Cove’, ‘Tongue Point’ and ‘Darby Saddle’. The track passes along arcades of tea tree, as well as through areas of low scrub punctuated with Xanthorrhoea bushes, with their erect, tall flower spikes, Hakea bushes spreading their spiky leaves, and occasionally, at the correct time of year, good examples of the Victorian floral emblem, the Common Heath (Epacris Impressa), with their scarlet flowers on display.

After about 2.6 Km, you reach a junction. To the right, the track leads to ‘Fairy Cove’. This diversion is optional (330 m each way). It is a steep track, and at the time of this survey, in need of some care and attention. It descends to the inviting beaches of Fairy Cove. Only sure-footed and confident walkers should attempt this trip while the track is in its present condition. The return climb back to the main track is hard work.

Warnings notwithstanding, Fairy Cove is a picturesque, rewarding destination. There is a pile of granite boulders dividing the beach into two parts – boulders which make suitable seats for a break!

At high tide, there would be so little sand exposed that the trip would not be worth the effort required, unless you desire to stand on the platform mid-point in the staircase and watch the waves crash on the rocks.

Back at the junction, continue ahead and, after another 100 m, there is also a track off to the left (South). We will get back to that soon enough.

Continue on down the track straight ahead, and, after another 1.3 Km, some of it on green boardwalk, you reach Tongue Point. Stop at the signpost, which warns of the dangers of exploring the rocks further out towards the tip of the point (don’t do it!) Enjoy the view!

When you have taken enough photos, retrace your steps to the last junction, and turn right (South), towards Darby Saddle. The track climbs steadily, through beautiful Messmate forest, She Oaks and Banksia.

After about 1.5 Km, you reach a viewpoint at Lookout Rocks. ‘Skull Rock’ (South) and ‘The Glennies’ group of islands (West) can be clearly seen from here!

After another 1.0 Km, there is a short side track left, to Sparkes Lookout. There are equally fabulous views from here. This is perhaps a good spot for lunch.

There is now just one more undulation to go, and 3 Km, with a steady descent, to Darby Saddle.

The Walk in Detail

This walk starts at Telegraph Saddle, and heads South down Telegraph Track – a management road that (almost) reaches the lighthouse on the Southern tip of the Prom.

After 2.4 Km, at the bottom of the descent, a bridge crosses McAlister Creek. This area was one of the many lush stream sides that were destroyed in the 2001 floods. It is now well on the way to recovery. At the 2.7 Km mark, there is another bridge crossing a different branch of the same creek.

At the 5.4 Km mark, the road crosses Growler Creek. This is pleasant spot for morning tea!

After 6.1 Km, you arrive at ‘Telegraph Junction’, where the sandy management track to Oberon Bay joins to the right (West).

The Oberon Bay track meanders through a picturesque avenue of overhanging trees. A family of Yellow-tail Black Cockatoos live here, wallabies, and snakes are common (so keep your eyes open!)

After just under 3 Kms more, the track reaches an open grassy area which houses a toilet and a water tank for the Oberon Bay campsite. The campsite is about 150 metres along a foot track on the West side of the toilet.

This grassy area, or the nearby beach, would be suitable lunch spots. However, if it is too early for lunch, defer until the North side of Growler Creek, where there is a sea view.

After inspecting the campsite, continue northwest past the information signs on a foot track which leads to Fraser’s Creek and Oberon Bay.

Head along the beach to its Northern end and Growler Creek. Growler Creek is tidal, so at high tide, you may decide to save your boots and get your feet wet.

An old track is still in evidence here – ignore it – take the lovely new track a little further upstream. There are great views here, on the way to Little Oberon Bay, where there is an amazing set of stairs constructed on a huge glacial tor, and onwards to Norman Beach.

After 15.3 Km, you arrive at Norman Beach, via a new boardwalk and footbridge – great views!

You can either follow your footprints up the beach, or take a somewhat more direct route to Tidal River. If you select the latter, go straight ahead, through a beautiful Paperbark forest (about 1.2 Km to the Tidal  River Ring Road, cross the road, and you have a further 400 m to the ice cream shop, the Parks Office and the Commando Memorial)

The Walk in Detail

This walk starts at the Commando Memorial at Tidal River, and follows the Ring Road Westward, towards the beach. Turn right at the junction with ‘Main Road’, into a carpark, then immediately turn left and follow signage down ‘Second Ramp’, to Norman beach.

Walk South down Norman Beach for about 1.5 Km, to the end of the beach, then take the track up off the beach.

The track heads South towards Norman Point, via a new boardwalk and footbridge. You reach a junction after about 1.4 Km, to a track out to Norman Point. This is an optional diversion, of 200 m each way, with a nice view at the Point.

The track continues up over a little hill (60 m ascent) to Little Oberon Bay, a distance of about 900 m. There is a new (and iconic) set of metal stairs here, up over a huge glacial tor and down to the beach!

Walk South down the beach until you can see the outflow of a small creek. About 90 m before reaching the creek, take a sandy track up the dune away from the beach. This leads to a good place to cross the (mostly dry) creek.

The track continues South through coastal heath, towards Oberon Bay, for about 1.6 Km. Here, you need to cross Growler Creek to get down onto Oberon Beach. Growler Creek is tidal, so at high tide, you may decide to save your boots and get your feet wet.

Walk South along Oberon Beach for about 1.3 Km. Just before reaching Fraser’s Creek, look for a foot-pad just above the beach, near the edge of the Ammophila grass holding the dune in place. This pad becomes a path which leads inland above and beside Fraser’s Creek. After about 100 m, you will find signage at an open grassy area which houses the toilet and water tank for the Oberon Bay campsite. The campsite is about 150 metres along a foot track on the west side of the toilet – you may wish to have a look! The Oberon Bay Track also continues Eastward from here, towards ‘Telegraph Junction’ and the Eastern side of the Prom.

When you are ready, you can retrace your steps back to Tidal River. The Northern side of Growler Creek is a nice place to have lunch!

Return to Tidal River by back-tracking. When you reach Norman Beach, you can either follow your footprints up the beach, or take a somewhat more direct route to Tidal River. If you select the latter, go straight ahead, through a beautiful Paperbark forest (about 1.2 Km to the Tidal River Ring Road, cross the road, and you have a further 400 m to the ice cream shop, the Parks Office and the Commando Memorial).

The Walk in Detail

This walk highlights three of the Prom’s best-known bays and beaches, and is a spectacular introduction to the Prom!

Cross Tidal River on the footbridge, and follow the path towards the Pillar Pt track junction. After a steep pitch (have a rest!), there is an excellent viewpoint overlooking Tidal River, with Mt Oberon in the background, from the track junction.

From the junction, you can optionally take the path down to Pillar Pt (720 m each way), which offers excellent views across Bass Strait. ‘The Glennies’ are a prominent set of small islands to the West, and, on a clear day, you can also see the dramatically eroded ‘Skull Rock’ to the South (best viewed from ‘The Wanderers’ boat trip from Tidal River).

Back at the junction, take the continuing track to the left to Squeaky Beach. After about another Km, the beach is a good spot for morning tea!

At the Northern end of Squeaky Beach, the trail heads inland and crosses a creek, then climbs to join a path to Picnic Bay.

Walk along Picnic Beach, and, at the Northern end, join a path to Whisky Bay. There is a bridge across Whisky Creek, before reaching the Southern end of the Whisky Beach, and a toilet is available up a short track to the carpark. Lunch at the Northern end of Whisky Beach, by the red lichen coloured rocks.

Retrace your footsteps to Tidal River

The Walk in Detail

Starting from Tidal River, at the footbridge, this walk includes the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk, an ascent of Mt Bishop, before returning to Tidal River. There are stunning views of Tidal River and the surrounding mountain ranges and beaches. A sharp eye may even spot an eel in the mountain streams, as they flow through the Lilly Pilly Gully.

The first challenge is the steady climb up to the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark, on a well-formed track. Not too hard! You will notice evidence of environmental burns and land clearing, as the land managers strive to remove Coastal Tea Tree to allow local eucalypts to reclaim their traditional dominance.

You must cross the main road to reach the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark – be careful!

From the carpark it is an easy stroll to the start of the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk. This lush area of interlinking water courses and wetland vegetation is a delight. Start the Lilly Pilly Gully walk going anti-clockwise, taking the right-hand path from the carpark, and enjoy the walk for the next 4.2 Km.

This track has quite a few information signs giving details about bushfires and how they affect the local ecosystem, types of local birds (eg. the Powerful Owl), fungi, types of trees, and many flowers. One of the signs lists 32 species of birds to look for, so, keep your eyes open!

The Nature Walk includes a wet-land area, with running water, seem from a boardwalk. There are more signs here, explaining about the lives of small tree climbing crustaceans, climbing fish, and the communities of plants and animals in this section of warm temperate rainforest. It would be easy to spend more than an hour here - it is a really beautiful and interesting place.

There you will find a track junction, with a track off on the right signposted ‘Mt Bishop’. Take this track, and commence a long steady climb up another well-maintained track to Mt Bishop. The climb is not hard, but demands a good level of fitness. The 2.2 Km climb is eventually rewarded by stunning views from the summit.

The return down to the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk is easy, and after a further 1.5 Km, you finish the Nature Walk at the Lilly Pilly Gully carpark.

Again, cross the main road (with care) and, after 200 m, at the track junction, take the left-hand trail back to Tidal River.